The Transformations Of American National Identity As Well As Its Effect On American Languages

This thesis is intended to explore the transformations of American national identity and its effect on American Languages.We are now confronted with the idea "globalization" which raises a set of issues concerning the concept of "identity". In the context of globalization, many countries in the world have identity crises. As a superpower, the United States cannot escape from national identity crisis either. Since the 1970s, an unprecedented number of immigrants came to the United States, especially those of Hispanic origins. The United States is becoming more diverse- linguistically, ethnically and culturally. Are Americans one people or several? Are they multicultural or monocultural? Americans engaged in intense debates over such questions and seemed never come to a common understanding. Samuel P. Huntington divided the transformations of American national identity into four phases. The author of this thesis generally agrees with this division, and makes it an important basis of this thesis.Language is a part of culture. German linguist and philosopher Humboldt holds that the language is the spirit of a nation; it brings the people in the language community a sense of belonging and molds their minds; it is a sign of identity. The linguistic diversity produces selves/others dichotomy, which results in contradictions and conflicts. Many different kinds of languages are used in the United States. The transformations of American national identity are also deeply reflected in the development of American languages. Combining both diachronic and synchronic approaches, this thesis focuses on the interrelationship between national identity and language in the United States. By following the transformations of American national identity, this thesis is attempting to examine the changes of American languages and some language policies in various historical periods. It is conducted from four phases, including nonexistence of national identity before the Independence; the budding of American national identity; the formation of American national identity; the crisis of American National Identity at present. Finally, the author of this paper will, from the weakness of the assimilationists' argument and eco-critical perspective, predict that the future of theUnited States will remain culturally plural and diverse, and so will be its language.